Vee hull construction

Abstract

The performance characteristics of a vee type planing hull are significantly increased by a combination of features for reducing drag and increasing attitude control. Exemplary of the former are a concave running pad to which air is inducted to reduce hull drag and an angled transom terminating at a transverse hull "step" which permits the outboard propulsion unit to be carried higher reducing unit drag. The presence of longitudinal "wedges" increase hull lift as planing speed is approached allowing the hull to plane at a lower speed. Transverse wedge elements positioned outboard of the concave running pad maintain a stern lifting torque for controlling bow up angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a power boat hull having a plurality of chine pairs extending fore and aft intermediate the bow and transom thereof; the central one of said chine pairs straddling a centerline keel portion exhibiting a forward vee section and an aft concave section comprising a concave planing pad; said forward vee section merging with said planing pad via an upwardly and rearwardly directed transition area for introducing air to said concave planing pad as the hull approaches full plane and directing air and water thereto during full plane; said concave planing pad terminating at the after end thereof in a transverse step immediately adjacent and forward of said transom whereby water flowing thereacross includes an upward component at the plane of the transom; and the plane of said transom extending, from above the water line, downwardly and forwardly to said transverse step. 
     
     
       2. In a power boat hull having at least three chine pairs extending fore and aft intermediate the bow and transom thereof; the central one of said chine pairs straddling a centerline keel portion exhibiting a forward vee section and an after concave section comprising a concave running pad; said forward vee section merging with said planing pad via an upwardly and rearwardly directed triangular transition area; said chine pairs including intermediate and outboard chine pairs delimiting, with said central chine pair and outboard spray rails, a plurality of step pairs; the inboard step pair, said central chine pair and said concave planing pad terminating at the after ends thereof in a transverse step forward of said transom defining a notched hull section; and an intermediate one of said step pairs terminating at said transom in downwardly directed, transverse wedges for imparting an upward stern thrust to said boat hull at speeds below planing speed. 
     
     
       3. The boat hull of claim 2 wherein said chine pairs are substantially parallel and at least two of said chine pairs include downwardly angled lower edges for directing water downwardly for increasing hull lift. 
     
     
       4. In a power boat hull having at least three chine pairs on the bottom thereof and an outboard spray rail merging the bottom and side walls of said hull; the central one of said chine pairs straddling a centerline keel portion having a forward vee section and an after concave section comprising a concave running pad; said forward vee section merging with said concave running pad via a planar, triangular transition area; said chine pairs and spray rail defining at least three step pairs outboard of said centerline keel portion; a downwardly and forwardly angled propulsion unit mounting transom at the stern of said hull; said hull including a transverse step marking the lower terminus of said transom and the aft termini of said concave pad and the inboard pair of said step pairs; an intermediate one of said step pairs extending outboard and aft of said transverse step to merge with said transom via downwardly directed transverse wedges at the merger of said intermediate one of said step pairs and transom for exerting stern lifting torque underway; the stern of said hull including symmetrical concave stern steps outboard of said transom and joining said transom with the aft ends of said side walls; and the aft ends of the outermost of said step pairs terminating at the lower edges of said concave stern steps.